Machine for imprinting and heat sealing labels



2,656,944 MACHINE FOR IMPRINTING AND HEAT SEALING LABELS 5 Sheets-Sheet l R. W. SWETT Oct. 27, 1953 Filed May 19, 1948 llv llll MACHINE FOR IMPRINTING AND HEAT SEALING LABELS Filed May 19, 1948 R. W. SWETT Oct. 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1953 R. w. SWETT 2,656,944

MACHINE FOR IMPRINTING AND HEAT SEALING LABELS Filed May 19, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet s MACHINE FOR IMPRINTING AND HEAT SEALING LABELS Filed May 19, 1948 R. W. SWETT Oct. 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 27, 1953 R. w. SWETT 2,656,944

MACHINE FDR IMPRINTING AND HEAT SEALING LABELS Filed May 19, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR IMPRINTING AND HEAT SEALING LABELS Robert W. Swett, Flossmoor, Ill., assignor to American Tag Company 20 Claims.

I This invention is directed to a machine for selectively imprinting and heat sealing labels to objects and which has particular utility in applying labels with selected identifying data imprinted thereon to wrapped food products and the like.

In food stores, warehouses and the like it is presently cutomary manually to apply identifying data to labels such as the name of a food product, the date, the price, the weight and so forth and then manually apply such labels to the appropriately wrapped food products. Such a manual procedure is time consuming, tedious, exacting and expensive, By the use of the machine of this invention, imprinted labels with the desired data may be readily and accurately applied to wrapped objects in considerably less time, with less effort and with great saving in expense. It has been found that in some instances the time element has been decreased by 600 percent by the use of the machine of this invention and that alone aiiords a great saving in expense. The number of labels wasted and misapplied in the manual procedure has been decreased to substantially zero by the use of the machine of this invention, also, aifording a great saving in expense.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a machine for selectively imprinting and sealing labels to objects wherein the'printing, mechanism thereof may be rapidly adjusted or rearranged to imprint desired information on the label and wherein the imprinted label is immediately sealed to the object. In this way the desired identifying data may be readily placed on objects for identifying the same even though each may vary from the other.

More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide a machine for selectively imprinting and heat sealing labels to objects wherein a strip of labels preferably in fan fold form are conveniently inserted in the machine, wherein the strip of labels is intermittently advanced through the machine by a simple feeding mechanism, wherein only the end label of the strip is selectively imprinted with the desired data by a simple and readily adjustable printing mechanism, wherein the imprinted end label is severed by a simple cut-of: mechanism, wherein the severed imprinted label is readily applied to the object to be labeled by a simple heat sealing mechanism, wherein the various mechanisms of the machine are power operated in timed relation through an operating cycle by a simple power operated mechanism, and wherein the machine is operated through an operating cycle under the control of a trigger mechanism when an obiect to be labeled is placed against the machine.

Other objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the feeding, printing, cut-off, heat sealing, power operated and trigger mechanisms of the machine and the cooperative relationship therebetween.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the machine of this invention with the cover removed;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the other side of the machine with the side plate removed;

Figure 3 is a front end elevational view of the machine with the cover shown in section and taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the machine with the cover shown in section;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-45 of Fig. 2;

Figure '7 is a partial sectional view similar to Fig. 6 with the heat sealing plunger being lowered;

Figure 8 is a partial vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-43 of Fig. 5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is a partial perspective View of a portion of the print wheel;

Figure 11 is a partial perspective view of the porous ink storing material utilized in the printing wheel;

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 2.

The machine of this invention for imprinting and heat sealing labels includes a substantially hollow base H) carrying a hollow housing H having a top wall l2, 2. side wall 13 and a removable side wall I4. I

Located within the hollow base member In is a motor is held in place by screws ll. The base portion may be suitably vented to prevent overheating of the motor. The motor shaft extends through the base [0 and is externally provided with a pinion l8 meshing with a gear 19 journaled at 2G to the side wall [3 of the housing II. A pinion 2| connected to the gear [9 operates through an idler gear 22 journaled at 23 to drive a gear 24 journaled at 25 to the housing H. The gear 24 carries a sprocket wheel 26 which is connected by a chain 2'! to the sprocket wheel 28 journaled at 2t to the housing ll. Connected to the sprocket wheel 28 is a gear 36 provided with a plurality of abutments 3i. Thus, as the motor it is operated, the gear 30 and the abutments 3% carried thereby are continuously rotated at the desired speed. A mutilated gear 34 provided with a hub 35 is secured by a nut 38 to a shaft 3% which. is journaled inathe side: wall f3 off the housing. The inner end of the shaft "36 carries a disc 31 so that as the mutilated gear 34 is rotated the disc 31 is rotated therewith.

The gear 34 is peripherally provided with. aplurality of teeth, but however is so mutilated. that five adjacent teeth are omitted. Thus, when the gear 34 is in the position shown 'in' Fig. 1

there is no engagement with the power driven gear 30 so that the gear 34 remains-stationary.

A pawl 48 is pivoted at 4| to the side of the mutilated gear 34 and is provided with a latching surface 42. The spring 43 normally urges the outer end of the pawl 40- intorthe path of movement of the abutments 3|, and. the extent ofsuch outward movement of the pawl is limited by a pin 44- carried by the mutilated gear. A

latch- 4-5 is pivoted at 45' to the side: of the mutilated gear 34 and the outer end' thereof is provided with a latching surface 4 1 engaging the latching surface 4'2 of the pawl. These latching surfaces operate to retain normally the pawl 48 in the position shown in Fig. -1. The latch K5 is urged into latching position by a spring 48 and the amount of" movement of the latch is limited by a pin 49 carried by the mutilated gear. The opposite end of the latch '45 is provided with a laterally extending pin 50 for the purpose of releasing the latch' to allow 'the'pawl M to be extended outwardly into "the path of the movement of the abutments 31.

A pin 52 carried by the side wall 13 fv the housing carries a roller 53in alignment withthe pawl 49 for the purpose of relatching the pawl. The pin 52 also carries an arm '1 which in turn is provided with a roller 55- engageable in a notch 56 in the hub o'fthe mutilated gear, theroller 55 being pressed against the hub 35 by means of a spring 51. The roller 55' cooperating with the notch 56 resiliently retains the mutilated gear 3A in the position shown in Fig. I outof mesh with the power driven gear 30.

A trigger mechanism 61) is pivoted to the housing by a pin 6| carried by the side plate f3. It has a transverse portion 52 extending underneath the machine to be engaged by an object when it is desired to heat seal 'a label thereto. The extent of movement of the trigger mechanism 553 is limited by a slot 63 and cooperating pin 64 on one side of the machine. The trigger is also guided on the other side of the machine by a pin 65. A trip lever 56 is pivotally secured at 63 to the trigger 60 and is urged in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown by a spring 69.

When the trigger mechanism is pressed upwardly the trip lever 63 engages the pin 50 of the latch 55 to release the latching surfaces 42. and. at whereupon the pawl '40 swings outwardly into the path of movement of the 'abutments 3L One of the abutments '31 then engages the end of the pawl 4!! to cause rotation of the mutilated gear 34 and after a slight rotation the gear teeth of the gears 39 and 34 mesh to cause continued rotation of the mutilated gear. As the mutilated gear '34 is thus rotated, the'pawl is returned to its original position by the roller 53 and is latched in position by engagement of the latching surfaces '42 and 41. The gear continues to rotate until the gear teeth disengage whereupon rotation of the mutilated gear 34 is interrupted, and the mutilated gear is centered in the correct position by the action of the spring pressed roller 55 cooperating with the notch 56 in the hub 35. In this way rotation of the mutila'tedagear 34 through 360 is provided under the control of the trigger mechanism. If the trigger mechanism should be held up for a period of time greater than that required for a single rotation. of the. mutilated gear 34, the pin 49 below the latch 45 causes the trip lever 55 to pivot about its pivot 68 so that the latch is not .trippedand'more than one rotation of the mutilated gear 34 is prevented. In order to repeat theoyclecf operation it is necessary for the trip mechanism 60 to be lowered and again raised. Thus, when the trip mechanism 60 is raised the mutilated gear 34 is driven through one compl'ete revolution andis-then stoppedand itcannot again be. driven. through another complete revolution until the: trigger mechanism .5 3 is again operated. Onecomplete revolution of the mutilated gear :34 causes one complete revolution of the disc 37 within the housing. The mutilated gear 35 and the connected disc 31 form a power operated mechanism foroperating the feeding mechanism, the printing mechanism, the cut-cit. mechanism and the heat sealing mechanism in timed relation. This power driven mechanism :is under the control of the trigger mechanism.

The housing H as shown in Figs. .2 and 4 .is internally provided with a storage compartment. 12 for a strip of labels 13,. the label strip preferably being in fan fold. form. The storage compartment 12 is provided witha feeding surface 14 over which the label strip is fed. A tension'lever T5 is pivoted to the. .housing at 16 and due to its-weight frictionally grips. the label strip between its end and the feeding surface 14. This tension lever '15 therefore provides for even feeding of the label strip from the storage compartment 12. Located above the storage compartment-i2 is a pin Ti over 'which'the. label strip is advanced. The purpose of the pin "H is to lift the 'label strip substantially vertically from the fan "fold pack so that'the feeding notches 35 in the label strip do not interfere with each other as the labels are being fed. Thev labels in the label strip 13 are preferably formed of paper which is provided with a suitable thermoplastic heat seal coating.

A free running guide roller is rotatably carried by a shaft 8| secured to the housing and the label strip courses the guide roller 80 during its advancing movement. The label strip 13 is advanced by a feed roller 82 journaled on a shaft 83 carried by thehousing. The feed roller 82 is provided with peripheral feed pins 84 for engaging in the notches 85 of the label strip. Thus, as thefeed roller 82 is rotated the pins -84 operate to advance the label strip.

One side of the feed roller 82 is provided with a plurality of radial grooves 86 which are flared attheir ends 81. The flared ends 8'! are adapted to receive a roller '88 carriedby an arm '89 pivotedto the housing at 90'. A spring 9| connected to the arm '89 causes the roller 83 to enter the flared ends 81 of the radial grooves 86 for the purpose of centering the feed roller 82 as it is intermittently advanced. The feed roller is provided with anadjustment mechanism including grooves 93 and screws 94 whereby thexperiphery of the feed roller may be adjusted with respect to the side Walls thereof for the purpose of adjusting the positions of the feed pins 84 with respect to the radial grooves 86. In this way the position of the label strip as it is intermittently advanced may be accurately pro-determined.

The feed roller 82 is intermittently advanced /4 of a revolution by a pin 96 carried by the disc 31. As the disc 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction through one revolution, the pin 96 enters one of the radial grooves 36 and rotates the feed roller {i2 through 90, the ultimate position of the feed roller being pro-determined by the action of the roller 88 in the flared ends 81 of the radial grooves. In this way the disc 3'! operates in the nature of a Geneva motion to impart intermittent rotation to the feed roller.

A shaft 98 is also carried by the housing II adjacent the feed roller s2 and this shaft carries a platen 99 by means of rearwardly extending ears Iilil. The platen iifi is provided with a guide surface It! and a printing surface I02 which is angularly displaced with respect to the guide surface. The angular displacement is for the purpose of presenting in a level fashion the labels to the printing mechanism. The rear end of the platen 98 is curved upwardly at I03 for assisting in the guidance of the label strip. The platen is also provided with upstanding arms Hi l for guiding the label strip as it passes over the platen.

A guiding plate I 65 is located above the platen 99 for holding the advancing label strip in engagement with the guide surface IiiI of the platen. In this connection the guide plate H is provided with an extension I86 which is journaled at it? on the shaft 98. The guide plate m5 is provided with a pair of notches I08 to permit the passage of the feeding pins 813 and is also provided with a pair of openings I09 through which a portion of the printing mechanisrn may imprint the labels. The guide plate N35 is also provided with a recess III} for accommodating one of the upstanding arms H34 of the platen 93. The guide plate I65 cooperates with the platen 89 to provide a positive mechanism for controlling the advance of the label strip from the feeding roller 82 to the printing and cut-off mechanisms. The platen and guide plate may be maintained on the shaft 98 by a suitable collar III.

In order to retain the label strip is in engage ment with the feed roller $2 a curved guide strip H2 provided with arms lit is also carried by the shaft 58. This feed strip is provided with openings lid for accommodating the feed pins 84 and the various parts of the strip are bridged by a bridge portion H5. The curved portion I63 of the platen forms an extension of the guide strip H2.

A shaft 2 It is journalled at I I9 underneath the platen S9 and is provided with a cam surface I 235 for engaging the bottom of the platen 95 for raising the same about the shaft 98. The shaft I It also carries a cam I2I which is adapted to be engaged by a projection IE2 on the periphery of the disc 3?. Thus, when the disc 31 is rotated the projection I22 engages the cam I2I rotating the shaft I I8 to cause the cam I 2.0 to raise the platen 95 to cause imprinting of the label thereon. A spring I 23 urges the platen 99 downwardly into engagement with the cam I 20.

The printing mechanism for imprinting the labels is carried by a sub-frame I25 fitting in the forward end of the housing and pivoted to the housing by a shaft I26. A pin I21 (Fig. 5) extends through the housing to engage a hole in the sub-frame I 25 and is urged into engagement with the sub-frame I25 by a spring I28. A knob !29 carried by the pin I 21 may be utilized for retracting the pin I2? to permit pivoting of the sub-frame I25 out of the housing Ii. The subframe I25 is provided with a plurality of slots I30 through which extend adjusting lovers. The sub-frame is also provided with a pair of spaced internally extending flanges I3! for supporting the printing mechanism.

A pair of shafts I and I3! are carried between the flanges ISI and are held in place by set screws I36 and I33. These two shafts carry the adjustable printing mechanism.

As illustrated, the printing mechanism includes five print wheels I40, I iI, I42, I43 and Hi l, respectively, and the construction of each of these print wheels is substantially the same. For example, the print wheei I includes a hub I45 rotatably mounted on the shaft I35, the hub being provided with a shoulder and screw threads, and the shoulder in turn being provided with gear teeth I46. Located on the hub I 35 is a spacing washer I41, a disc I 38, a second disc I49 and a clamping nut I 50. The second disc I49 is flared outwardly at IEI and I52 and inwardly at I53 to provide an annular recess therein. The periphery I53 of the disc I44! is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings I54. A strip of porous inlr storing material I55 is located within the annular recess and is provided with a plurality of porous protrusions extending through the spaced openings I54 in the periphery of the disc and these protrusions are provided with printing characters i5'l. The disc I48 clamped to the disc I49 operates to retain the strip of porous ink storing material within the annular recess. The spaced openings I54 in the periphery of the printing Wheel operate to locate accurately the porous protrusions and to limit the amount of porous material exposed to the atmosphere. The porous material is such that it absorbs and stores a large quantity of ink and it is found that many thousands of imprinting operations may be readily obtained thus, eliminating the necessity of in!- ing pads, ink ribbons, etc. In order to permit free rotation of the print wheels on the shaft I35 suitable spacing washers I53 are provided.

A gear sector I69 is provided with teeth iii! meshing with the gear teeth of the hub I45 for the purpose of rotating the latter. The gear sector I is secured to a hub I52 by rivets ass and q a handle I54 in turn is secured to the gear sector T60 by screws I653 The hub I52 rotatably mounted on the shaft I3! is provided with teeth I61 which are engaged by a detent Iiiii pivoted at I 59 and urged into engagement with the teeth by a spring I19. The handle I 64 extends outwardly through one of the slots I3il in the subframe and is externally provided with a knob I66. The handle I64 may be manually manipulated by the knob I66 and in so manipulating the same. the print wheel through the meshing teeth i 56 and I6I is adjusted to the desired position. The detent I63 and associated teeth I5! operate to position the handle I 54 and hence the print wheel in accurately predetermined positions. The extent of movement of the handle I643 may be limited by stop pins iii and I12 extending through the slots I30.

The adjusting mechanism including the handle I64 are substantially repeated for each print wheel and the handles for these adjusting mech- 7 anisms are designatedat I75, I16, I11 and I'I B',re,-. spectively.

The printwheels MI and I44. and themechanisms between their associated handles I15 and I'IB are the same as those of the print wheel Mi] while the print wheels I42 and I43 and themecha-m'sms between them. and their associated. handies lit and I'M are substantiallythe same. In this latter connection the print wheel I .42 is car-. ried by a hub, I8I which is journaledon ahub I85. The hub I8I is driven by the gear sector [.82 Which is keyed to a hub I83 by a key L84. The operating lever I1] is staked to the hub. 1.83. The. print wheel M3 is carried 'bya hub L85 which has a gear I86 staked thereto. The gear 1.8.6. meshes with a. gear sector I8? which in turncarries the adjusting lever I'It. Thus, the relationship between the print wheels I42 and I43. and their associated handles Ill and I16. remains the same even. though the operative connections therebetween are reversed.

There is thus provided a fully adjustable print wheel mechanism including. five print wheels, as illustrated and five correspondingly located adjusting levers whereby the print. Wheels may be individually adjusted to cause desired printing characters. to be printed upon the label. When a label is advanced underneath the print wheels, it is raised into engagement with the print wheels by the platen, the print characters of the print wheels printing the label through the openings I09 in the guide plate.

Adjacent the. print wheels there is located an elongated receptacle 59.9 open at the bottom and provided with grooves in the opposite sides there of. A removable printing. slug I91 is adapted to be slid .into the receptacle from the side of .the machine and this printing slug includes a metallic channel having internal grooves in the op.- posite sides thereof and corresponding external ridges receivable in the grooves of the receptacle. A strip of porous ink-storing material I182 is received within the .channel and is provided. with tongues for engaging in the internal grooves .of the channel whereby thestrip of porous material I92 is retained within the channel. The strip of porousv material is provided with porous protrusions extending through the bottom opening of the channel and the receptacle .and provided with printing charactersat the extremitiesthereof. A leaf spring I 83 in the receptacle resiliently retains the channel in place therein. Printing slugs having diiferent printing characters there.- on may be readily substituted in the receptacle. When the label carried by the platen is raised the printing slug in. addition to the print wheels imprints the label, the printing slug imprinting the label extending beyond the end of the guide plate E5.

The cut-off mechanism includes an anvil I95 located at theend of the platen 99 anda knife [9% cooperates with the anvil I95 for severing the end label from the strip. The knife I96 is provided with an extension I9! and is pivoted to the housing at !8.8. A, link I99 connects the end of the extension I9? to an armature 200 ,of a solenoid 28!. A spring 262 maintains the knife I96 retracted and when the solenoid 3G! is energized the knife I96 is advanced against the action .of the spring. The solenoid 2M is electrically connected to an electric switch 203 having an operate ing lever The lever 26.5 is engaged by the pin $2 on the mutilated gear .34, so that when the mutilated gear .34 is rotated .thelever .204 is aperated to closemomentarily the electric switch 8. 211.3 for momentarily energizing the solenoid 201.. This provides a rapid operation of the knife I to sever quickly the end label from the label strip. The-armature 2.00 of the solenoid may be provided. with a buffer spring 205.

The outer bottom edge of the housing is provided with an opening 205 corresponding generally to the size; of. the severed label and a face plate 209 having a. similar opening which is secured to and spaced from the housing by spacers 2 I I). The housing is, also, provided with a guide 2H held in place by spring clamps 212 and screws 2I3 for centering the labels in the opening 208.

A bracket 2J5 carrying a heated plunger 2 i5 is vertica11y,.movab1 y mounted in the housing above the opening 209.. The plunger ZIS includes a heating element 2 i1. and a. conventional thermostat electrically connected by wires 2 i8 to a source of electricenergy. In this way the plunger 216 is maintained .at a relatively constant heatsealing. temperature. The bracket carrying the plune ris-in turn carried y a leeve 2 a 9 prov e with a cap 22s. A head 22E carried by a rod 222 is received in the sleeve 2 is. A spring 223 in the sleeve 2J9 normally holds the head 221 in engagement with, the cap 22s. The spring and head provide a one Way strain release connection between the sleeve 2I8 and the rod 222. The sleeve 21.! is guided. for vertically reciprocating, movement in .a bearing 22d carried by the housing. The upper end of the rod 22 2 isconnected by a pin .2 2.5 tea link 225 which in turn is con nected by a pin 22? to a lever 228 pivoted on the shaft M. The bracket 2745 also carries a guide 230 coopfirating with rollers 235 carried by the housing so that the bracket 2&5 is guided in its movement. at both. ends- The heated, plunger H6. is, therefore, reciprocated upwardly and downwardly through the opening 208, when the lever 223 is oscillated. Downward movement of the heated plunger 2I6 engages the severed label carried by the face plate 26,8, heats the label and heat seals it to an object placed against the face plate 2&9 as illustrated in Fig. "I,

The lever 2278 for operating the heat sealing plunger is provided with a pin 233 fitting in a box earn 234 formed in the side of the disc 3! so thatas the disc 3] is rotated through one revolution, the heated plunger is advanced and retracted. The strain release connection prevents danger to the heat sealing mechanism in the event that complete advancing movement of the plunger is prevented.

The operation of the imprinting and heat sealing machine is as follows:

A strip of labels is placed in the storage compartment and is inserted over the feeding mechanism and between the printing mechanism and platen. The printing mechanism is adjusted to provide for the desired imprinting and the circult .to the. heat sealing mechanism is completed for heating the plunger up to heat sealing temperature. The electric motor for driving the machine is placed in operation. The object to be labelled is placed against the face plate and the trigger mechanism is thereby operated to provide rotation of the mutilated gear 3!! and disc 3.! through one revolution. During the first part of this. revolution, the projection I22 on the disc 31 first operates the platen 99 to cause imprinting ..only .of the end label. The pin 96 on the disc .3] then enters a radial groove 86 in the feed roller to advancethe s rip oflabels the dis.- ame .of one label whereupon the imprinted end label is moved into the opening beneath the heated plunger. The pin 49 on the mutilated gear 3 5 then operates the switch 203 which in turn energizes the solenoid 20! for operating the cut-off mechanism to sever the imprinted end label. The box cam 234 then operates the heated plunger to move the same downwardly to heat the severed imprinted label and force it through the opening in the face plate onto the object resting against the face plate. In this way the severed imprinted label is heat sealed to the object. The plunger is then retracted and the parts are in the position for another cycle of operation.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure, and therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of i labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cutoff and heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object.

2. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-01f mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-oil mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cut-oif and heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object, and a trigger mechanism adjacent the heat sealing mechanism for operating the power operated mechanism through the operating cycle when the object is placed adjacent the heat sealing mechanism.

A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at at time through the printing mechanism, a cut-01f mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cut-01f and heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object, said power operated mechanism including a power driven driving gear, a mutilated. gear nor-- mally disengaged from the power driven driving gear but adapted to be rotated into mesh therewith to be driven thereby, an abutment on the power driven driving gear, a pawl carried by the mutilated gear and biased into the path of the abutment, a latch carried by the mutilated gear for holding the pawl retracted from the path of the abutments, a trigger for operating the latch to release the pawl for engagement by the abutment to rotate the mutilated gear into mesh with the power driven driving gear, a member for retracting and relatching the pawl after meshing of the gears to terminate rotation of the mutilated gear at the end of one cycle and connections between the mutilated gear and the printing, feeding, cut-oil and heat sealing mechanisms for operating the same in timed relation.

4. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cut-off and heat sealin mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object, said power operated mechanism including a power driven driving gear,

7 a mutilated gear normally disengaged from the power driven driving gear but adapted to be rotated into mesh therewith to be driven thereby, an abutment on the power driven driving gear, a pawl carried by the mutilated gear and biased into the path of the abutment, a latch carried by the mutilated gear for holding the pawl retracted from the path of the abutments, a trig ger for operating the latch to release the pawl for engagement by the abutment to rotate the mutilated gear into mesh with the power driven driving gear, a member for retracting and re latching the pawl after meshing of the gears to terminate rotation of the mutilated gear at the end of one cycle, connections between the mutilated gear and the printing, feeding, cut-oii and heat sealing mechanisms for operating the same in timed relation, and a device adjacent the heat sealing mechanism to be engaged by the object for operating the trigger when the object is placed adjacent the heat sealing mechanism.

5. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprintmg one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels oneat a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cut-01f and heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object, said power operated mechanism including a power driven driving member, a driven'member, a clutch between the driving member and the driven member for operating the latter through one cycle and connections between the driven member and the'printing, feeding, cut-off and heat sealing mechanisms for operating the same in timed relation.

6. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing thesame to objects comprising, 1

an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time "only the end label of a strip of labels, feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut=off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-oif mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cut-off and heat sealing mechanism'in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advancethe strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label'to the object, said power operated mechanism including a power driven driving member, a driven member, a clutch between the driving member and the driven member for operating the latter through one cycle and connections between the driven member and the printing, feeding, cut-oif and heat sealing mechanisms for operating the same in timed relation, and a trigger mechanism adjacent the heat sealing mechanism to be engaged by the object for engaging the clutch when the object is placed adjacent the heat sealing mechanism.

'7. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an'adjustabl'e printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-oil mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cut-off and heat sealing mechanism in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object, said power operated mechanism including a member driven through a cycle, a connection between the driven member and the printing mechanism for imprinting only the end label during the first portion of the cycle, a connection between the driven member and the feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels and the imprinted end label during the next portion of the cycle, a connection between the driven member and the cut-off mechanism for severing the ad vanced imprinted end label during the next portion of the cycle and a connection between the driven member and the heat sealing mechanism for heat sealing the imprinted severed label to the object.

8. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, out-off and heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object, said power operated mechanism including a power driven driving member, a driven memher, a clutch between the driving member and the driven member for operating the latter through one cycle, a connection between the driven member and the printing mechanism for imprinting only the end label during the first portion of the cycle, a connection between the driven member and the feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels and the imprinted end 1abel during the next portion of the cycle, a connection' between the driven member and the cutoff mechanism for severing the advanced imprinted end label during the next portion of the cycle and a connection between the driven memher and the heat sealing mechanism for heat sealing the imprinted severed label to the object.

9. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cutoff and heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object, said power operated mechanism including a power driven driving member, a driven member, a clutch between the driving member and the driven member for operatingthe latter through onecycle, a connection between the driven member and the printing mechanism for imprinting only the end label during the first portion of the cycle, a connection between the driven member and the feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels and the imprinted end label during the next portion of the cycle, a connection between the driven member and the cut-off mechanism for severing the advanced imprinted end label during the next portion of the cycle, a connection between the driven member and the heat sealing mechanism for heat sealing the imprinted severed label to the object, and a trigger mechanism adjacent the heat sealing mechanism to be engaged by the object for engaging the clutch when the object is placed adjacent the heat sealing mechanism.

10. A machine for selectively imprinting 1abels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-oil mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cuton": and heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object, said power operated mechanism including a power driven driving gear, a mutilated gear normally disengaged from the power driven driving gear but adapted to be rotated into mesh therewith to be driven thereby, an abutment on the power driven driving gear, a pawl carried by the mutilated gear and biased into the path of the abutment, a latch carried by the mutilated gear for holding the pawl retracted from the path of the abutment, a trigger for operating the latch to release the pawl for engagement by the abutment to rotate the mutilated gear into mesh with the power driven driving gear, a member for rer tracting and relatching the pawl after meshing of the gears to terminate rotation of the mutilated gear at the end of one cycle, a connection between the driven member and the printing mechanism for imprinting only the end label during the first portion of the cycle, a connection between the driven member and the feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels and the imprinted end label during the next portion of the cycle, a connection between the mutilated gear and the cut-off mechanism for severing the advanced imprinted end label during the next portion of the cycle, and a connection between the mutilated gear and the heat sealing mechanism for heat sealing the imprinted severed label to the object.

11. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-on mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cut-oil and heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object, said power operated mechanism including a power driven driving gear, a mutilated gear normally disengaged from the power driven driving gear but adapted to be rotated into mesh therewith to be driven thereby, an abutment on the power driven. driving gear, a pawl carried by the mutilated gear and biased into the path of the abutment, a latch carried by the mutilated gear for holding the pawl retracted from the path of the abutment, a trigger for operating the latch to release the pawl for engagement by the abutment to rotate the mutilated gear into mesh with the power driven driving gear, a member for retracting and relatching the pawl after meshing of the gears to terminate rota tion of the mutilated gear at the end of one cycle, a connection between the driven member and the printing mechanism for imprinting only the end label during the first portion of the cycle, a connection between the driven member and the feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels and the imprinted end label during the next portion of the cycle, a connection between the mutilated gear and the cut-oil mechanism for severing the advanced imprinted end label during the next portion of the cycle, a connection between the mutilated gear and the heat sealing mechanism for heat sealing the hem printed severed label to the object, and a device adjacent the heat sealing mechanism to be engaged by the object for operating the trigger when the object is placed adjacent the heat sealing mechanism.

12. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-ofi mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip of labels and including a knife, a solenoid for operating the knife and a switch for controlling the solenoid, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacent thereto, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cut-off and heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end label, to sever the lin printed end label and to heat seal the severed iinprinted label to the object.

13. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same to objects comprising, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labels and including adjustable printing type and a platen movable toward and away from the printing type, a feeding mechanism for advancing the strip of labels one at a time through the printing mechanism, a cut-off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism forsever-ing the imprinted end label from the end' of the strip of labels, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-oi? mechanism for heat sealing the-severed'imprinted label to object placed adja'cent thereto a power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the printing, feeding, cut-o'fian'd heat sealing mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the-end label of the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels and the imprinted end labelpto se zer th'e 1m printed end label and to heat seal the severed imprintedl'abelto'the objectl 14. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same'to objects comprising, an adjustable prin-t-ing'm'echanism forimprinting one at a time only the end label of a strip of labelsand including adjustable printing. type and a platen movable toward and away from the printing type, a feeding mechanism for-advancing the strip of labels one at a time over the platento be moved by'the platen into printing en-- gagement with the printingi type andi=including a feed roll andguideior directing the strip of labels onto the platen, a cut-elf mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label from the end of the strip-oi labels and including a Knife, a solenoid for operating the knife and-a switch for controlling the solenoid, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing-the severed imprinted label to an object placed adjacer' thereto and including'a heated plunger for engaging the severed imprinted label and'forcing it against the object, and power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the platen of the printingmechanism, the feed'roll of the feeding mechanism, the switch of the cut-off mechanism and the plunger of the heatsealing mechanism in timed relation through an operating cycle to imprint only the end labelof the strip of labels, to advance the strip of labels andthe imprinted-end label, to sever the-imprinted end label and to heat seal the severed imprinted label to the object.

15. A machine for heat sealing detached labels to objects comprising, a face plate having an opening substantially conforming to the de tached label and adapted to pass an interposed detached label therethrough onto an object placed against the face plate, a heated movable pi'unger for engaging and passing the interposed detached label through the opening in the face plate and heat sealing the same to the object placed against the face plate, a power operated mechanism for moving the heated plunger, and a strain release connection between the power operated mechanism and the plunger.

16. A machine for heat sealing detached labels to objects comprising, a face plate having an opening substantially conforming to the detached label and adapted to pass an interposed detached label therethrough onto an object placed against the face plate, a heated movable'plunger for engaging and passing the interposed detached label through the opening in the face plate and heat sealing the same to the object placed against the face plate, a power operated mechanism for moving the heated plunger, and a'trigger mechanism adjacent the face plate to'be engaged bythe object placed thereagainst for controlling the operation of the power operated mechanism.

'17. A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat sealing the same'to objects-comprising,

a: feeding mechanism ior intermittently advancing a strip of labels the distance of one label and including arotary feed roll, a plurality of radially extending groovesv in one side of the feed roll, a rotary member and a pin carried by the rotary disc for entering and withdrawing from each radial groove successively to provide intermittent' rotation of the feed roll, an adjustable printing mechanism. adjacent the feed mechan'ism'for imprinting one at a time only the end label of the strip of labels advanced by the feedins-mechanism and including aplurality of print wheel's rotatablymo'unted ona common axis and ea'chhavingperipherally arranged printing characters, adjusting-means for the print'wheels for 'adjustably positioning'the same, amovable platen for carrying and guiding the end label of the advancing strip of labels adjacent the print wheels, 'aca'm for moving the platen toward the print wheels for imprinting the end label carried-thereby and a pin onsaid rotary member for operating the cam to cause the printing mechanism to operatein "timed relationto the feeding mechanism, a cut-off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label of the strip of labels and including a knife,- a-solenoid'for-operating theknife, a switch for'controlling the solenoid and a pin on the rotary member for operating the switch to cause the cut-off mechanism to operate in timed relation tothe feeding mechanism and printing mechanism, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealin'gthe severed'imprinted label'to the object and including a face plate'having an opening substantially conforming to thesev'ered imprinted label, a heated movable plunger forpassing the severed imprinted label through the opening in the face plate and heat sealing the same to the object placed against the face plate and a cam on said rotary member'for movingtheplungertocause the heat sealing mechanism to operate in timed relation to the feeding mechanism, the printing mechanism and the cut-01f mechanism.

18: A machine for selectively imprinting labels and heat-sealingthesame to objects comprising, a'feeding mechanism-for intermittently advancinga stripof labels the distance of one label and including-a-rotary feed roll, a plurality of radially extending" grooves in one side of the feed roll, a rotary member and a-pin carried by the rotary disc forentering and withdrawing from each radial 'groove successively to provide intermittent rotationof th'e'feed roll, an adjustable printing mechanism adjacent the feed mechanism for imprinting one at a time only the end label of the strip of labels advanced 'by the feeding mechanism and including a plurality of print wheels rotatably mounted on a common axis and each having peripherally arranged printing characters, adjusting means for the print wheels for adj ustably positioning the same, a movable platen for carrying and guiding the end label of the advancing strip of labels adjacent the print wheels, a cam for moving the platen toward the print wheels for imprintingthe end label'c'arried thereby and a pin on said rotary member for operating the cam to cause the printing mechani'sm to operate in timed relation to the feeding mechanism, a cut-off mechanism adjacent the printing mechanism for severing the imprinted end label of the strip of labels and including a knife, a solenoid for operatin the knife, a switch for controlling the solenoid and a pin on'the rotary member for operating'the switch to cause the cut-off mechanism to operate in timed relation to the feeding mechanism and printing mechanism, a heat sealing mechanism adjacent the cut-off mechanism for heat sealing the severed imprinted label to the object and including a face plate having an opening substantially conforming to the severed imprinted label, a heated movable plunger for passing the severed imprinted label through the opening in the face plate and heat sealing the same to the object placed against the face plate, a cam on said rotary member for moving the plunger to cause the heat sealing mechanism to operate in timed relation to the feeding mechanism, the printing mechanism and the cut-off mechanism, a power operated mechanism and a trigger mechanism for coupling the power operated mechanism to the rotary member for an operating cycle including a trigger adjacent the face plate to be engaged by the object placed thereagainst for imprinting and heat sealing a label thereto.

19. A machine for feeding labels from a strip, selectively imprinting the labels and sealing the same to objects comprising a cut-off mechanism for severing a label from the end of the strip of labels, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting the labels one at a time, a. sealing mechanism for sealing the imprinted and severed labels to an object placed adjacent thereto, a feeding mechanism for advancing the labels through the cut-off mechanism and the printing mechanism to the sealing mechanism, power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the cut-off, printing, sealing and feeding mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to seal the label which was imprinted during that operating cycle to the object, and a trigger mechanism adjacent the heat sealing mechanism for operating the power operated mechanism through the operating cycle when the object is placed adjacent the heat sealing mechanism.

20. A machine for feeding labels from a strip, selectively imprinting the labels and sealing the same to objects comprising, a cut-off mechanism for severing a label from the end of the strip of labels, an adjustable printing mechanism for imprinting the labels one at a time, av sealing mechanism for sealing the imprinted and severed labels to an object placed adjacent thereto, a feeding mechanism for advancing the labels through the cut-off mechanism and the printing mechanism to the sealing mechanism, power operated mechanism for intermittently operating the cut-off, printing, sealing and feeding mechanisms in timed relation through an operating cycle to seal the label which was imprinted during that operating cycle to the object, said power operated mechanism including a power driven driving member, a driven member, a clutch between the driving member and the driven member for operating the latter through one cycle and connections between the driven member and the printing, feeding, cut-off and heat sealing mechanisms for operating the same in timed relation.

ROBERT W. SWET'I.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 841,342 Richards 1- Jan. 15, 1907 887,835 Neureuther May 19, 1908 1,174,562 Gill Mar. '7, 1916 1,514,109 Stenstrom Nov. 4, 1924 1,811,636 Johnson June 23, 1931 1,909,141 Woodward May 6, 1933 2,003,999 Hageman June 4, 1935 2,264,339 Sherman Dec. 2, 1941 2,286,159 Reynolds June 9, 1942 2,329,669 Tuthill Sept. 14, 1943 2,342,082 Klosterman Feb. 15, 1944 2,408,363 Beckman Oct. 1, 1946 2,516,487 Schicksupp July 25, 1950 

